Are False Prophets and Ravenous Wolves Suppin with the Saints or,  Suppin with the Sinners!

15"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves" (Matt. 7:15).

Ignorance of the sacred Scripture is a heart-breaking reality in the church today. The Bible is the only source of authority, but there has always been those who seek teachings of men. In 2 Timothy 4: 3ff we read of those who seek teachers who tickled their ears. Nothing has changed, people still do the same thing. As long as men choose to believe what their "preachers" say as opposed to the "Word of God" there can be no unity in the church. Hypocrisy will and does flourish in the "house of the Lord." Once again, the Bible does warn about these hypocritical false teachers (1st Tim. 4:2).

Christians must ask themselves constantly if what they are doing is biblically sound or accurate. In the midst of all the conflict that exists in the church today and in spite of our differences, have we allowed the wool to be pulled over our eyes? Satan loves it when we create religious deceptions that do not follow sound Biblical teachings.

The term that is used to describe variance in the biblical doctrine is heresy. Heresy is opinion or doctrine not in line with the accepted teachings of the Bible. Actions that threatened the harmonious relations of the church are found in Galatians 5:20. Those things include the works of the flesh-strife-seditions (divisions), envying and people who chose to place their own desires above the teachings of the Bible. Remember, in 2nd Peter 2:1 false teachers will secretly introduce destructive heresies.

Paul's farewell address to the Ephesians in Acts 20:17-38, addressed the elders of the church concerning those who would turn away from the truth and use their influence to deceive others (Acts 20:29-30). Wolves in sheep's clothing who use smooth and flattering speech to deceive the the hearts of unsuspecting are enemies of the righteous.

The Elders-ship serves as a decision making council for THE WHOLE CHURCH and not just a few who call and have special meetings for the insiders (Acts 15:21; 17-26). The elders are the spiritual leaders of the church (Titus 1:6-9) and (1st Tim.3:1-7). They are much more than just a governing council and according to the Bible "are worthy of double honor" (1st Tim. 5:12).

Where then is the Scripture that gives the authority to any lay person to hold secret meetings and to use underhanded interference to bring about malicious injury to the elders? This is unholy and an intentional act of apostasy. Apostasy involves doctrinal deception and moral insensitivity which leads to ethical wrongdoing (1st Tim. 4ff).

If an elder or eldership has committed a sin there is a correct and Biblical manner in which we can address the problem. It is found in general in Matthew chapter 18: 15-20 and specifically in 1st Tim. 5:17-21. To accuse an elder one must approach that elder with multiple witnesses. If the elder refuses to correct his behavior then the elder must be taken before the assembly or as the Bible tells us "in front of all" and not at a lunch with the widowed women. The entire membership of the church is to be involved and not the secret few! (1st Tim. 5:17-21). To do this in any other manner is heresy!

So now we realize that the Bible was ignored by a few and the ugly fact is that the sinful actions that took place were approved by many. The only solution to the problem at this point to correct the shameful sin is for those who were involved to "repent" in front of all.